With food prices on the rise, it can be tricky to know how to eat healthily. Here are some simple tips to look after your heart, as well as your bank balance.
Oatmeal
Swap overpriced sugary breakfast cereals for cheap and cheerful oats. Oats are high in soluble fibre which help lower cholesterol. Get creative with porridge toppings, overnight oats and baked oatmeal!
Increasing vegetable intake
Vegetables are pound for pound a lot better value than meat and animal products, which are also high in saturated fat that clogs arteries.
Simple swaps like using half a pack of mince in your bolognaise or shepherd’s pie and using cooked puy lentils or mushrooms to bulk out the rest are great. It allows you to freeze the other half of the mince for another dinner, whilst also increasing your fibre, and those lovely antioxidant vitamins found in plant foods.
Cook the Mediterranean way!
Add a healthy dose of garlic to your cooking. Not only does it taste good, it also contains a component called Allicin which has been shown to naturally lower blood pressure. It will also inhibit platelet buildup which can reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke.
Frozen berries and veg
Buy antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory berries and leafy greens like spinach and brussel sprouts frozen. They’re often actually fresher as they are frozen at source, and you get a lot more for your money.
Walking
Walk your journey to work or get off the tube early to get your cardiovascular exercise in, as well as cutting the price of your journey.
Batch cook
Avoid buying those overpriced sandwiches on workdays, which are often full of hidden inflammatory additives. Batch cooking your favourite curries, stews, soups on a Sunday can mean you eat a nutritious meal every day, whilst cutting the cost by 80%.
Knowledge is power!
These tips can help you to lower your cholesterol and look after your heart. Checking your cholesterol levels with one of our tests before and then three or four months later could allow you to track your improvement. You’ll feel better but knowing you’re better is a real motivator towards a happier, healthier lifestyle.
Browse our test kits here.
